Venkatesh Rao, a Seattle-based independent researcher and management consultant, advises using your answer as a networking opportunity by saying something like, "I am on the market. Know any good gigs for a [your profession here]?"Let them know you have options.

Even if you're unemployed right now, you shouldn't put off a desperate vibe. So exude confidence by communicating that you have options, says Rao. You can say something like: "I've got a couple of options brewing. Haven't yet decided what to do."
Tell them you're "in between jobs."

If you confidently say "I'm in between jobs" or "I am taking some time off" like it doesn't bother you, then it won't be a big deal to others, says lawyer and technologist Gil Silberman. Instead, focus the conversation on your project, skills, or even volunteer experience.

Page 2 of 2 - "Usually it is best not to be desperate, and if you are desperate, it is usually for the best not to tell everyone about it," he writes.

Luckily, the entrepreneurial economy has made it OK to leave a full-time gig to focus on your own career endeavors. You can easily say that you're a freelancer or entrepreneur, advise Pushkarr Thakre and Varun Upadhyay.